Gautam Gambhir admitted it was a huge relief to hit a century in the second Test against Australia having missed out on several opportunities in the past.
Gambhir had previously made seven half-centuries, including one in the first innings of this game, but had only one century in 18 Test appearances.
However, the left-hander hit a swashbuckling 104 to secure his second Test ton and help India claim a position of control on the fourth day.
With Australia chasing a victory target of 516, India had restricted their opponents to 5-141 by close of day four in Mohali.
"Not being able to convert those 70s and 60s into a big one was weighing heavily on my mind," Gambhir said.
"I was really desperate to get a big one and luckily it happened today when the team needed it most."
Although the 27-year-old could not pinpoint the exact reason for his failure in the past, Gambhir confessed he had been determined to reach the three-figure mark this time around.
"I'm not sure what it (the reason) was really - perhaps a concentration issue or a rush of blood," he continued.
"But, ultimately it left me a bit desperate, especially when I got to the 70-run mark."
"I tried to stay calm today, to focus on the present and concentrate on each ball rather than think about the 100."
Gambhir had matched partner Virender Sehwag stroke for stroke as the two put on 182 runs for the opening wicket before India eventually declared its second innings on 3-314.
"It's a great feeling batting with him," said Gambhir. "We share a good chemistry and there's a good understanding between us."
"I've never really tried to match him, but my game has always been aggressive. I've tried to play positive and if there is a ball to be hit, I go after it."
"I play my shots but never try to match him."
Gambhir said the openers had decided to just play their natural game at the start.
"We were in a very good position having secured a 201-run lead," he explained.
"We always thought it was important to go out there and enjoy ourselves, be positive and play our natural game. It clicked for us today."
The left-hander also believes India has the advantage going into play on the final day with Australia still needing 375 runs to triumph.
"The pitch has slowed up a bit," Gambhir said. "It always becomes difficult to play the fifth day especially when you're facing two quality spinners."
"Harbhajan (Singh) and Ishant (Sharma) bowled splendidly today and they have really got us to a good position."
"I think if we get a wicket in the morning tomorrow we could wrap up this game quickly."
Meanwhile, India's selectors made no change to the team for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Test series.
The selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Yashpal Sharma and Narendra Hirwani had picked the current 15-member team for the first two Tests and had decided to review selection at the end of the second Test in Mohali.
The selection committee chaired by Srikkanth, however, met on Monday and made no change to the team.
A press release for the Board of Control in Cricket in India said leg-spinner Amit Mishra, originally scheduled to play in a domestic tournament, would remain with the team until the end of the series.